This is how we meet Robert Zimmerman, future bohemian poster-child of 1961.
Go to a hospital in New Jersey.
Youll find him there.
Timothée Chalamet in ‘A Complete Unknown.‘Macall Polay/Searchlight Pictures
The gent hes come to see, Woody Guthrie, is indeed there.
Hes still six years away from dying, but the man aint well.
The other person in the room is fellow troubadour and rabble-rouser Pete Seeger.
His guitar is unsheathed.
The older men exchange looks.
Theyve just glimpsed the future.
Its a generic moment that could have been lifted from a million generic music biopics.
It happens to be doing double duty.
Chalamet isnt becoming Bob Dylan.
The scene immediately makes you want to see where he takes it.
), then quickly mesmerizes you and makes you forget youre watching a well-known actor.
The print-the-legend vibe is strong in this one.
Other times, itsthe cinematic equivalent of 101 Primer.
They dont realize theyve just heard a swan song.
Meanwhile, Mangold keeps filming Dylans Triumph motorcycle like its a hard-to-shake bad penny.
So thank God/Bob six of one that Chalamet keeps you invested.
(Dont just take our word for it.)
He makes so many of the bum notes inA Complete Unknownforgivable.
Its not as game-changing as that snare drum that opens Like a Rolling Stone.
But it still feels damn near electric.
